Secret Undertaking by Mark de Castrique
After I read a couple of Mark de Castrique's Sam Blackman books, I quit the series. But, the seventh Buryin' Barry mystery, Secret Undertaking , made me go back to pick up the first in this series. Dark humor, that western North Carolina small community setting, and the appealing characters drew me in. It's that humor that's so rarely done well that appealed to me. And, you don't need to have read the earlier books in the series if you want to pick up Secret Undertaking . "Buryin' Barry" Clayton is the owner of the local funeral home in Gainesboro, North Carolina. He's also a part-time deputy for a very shrewd sheriff, Tommy Lee Wadkins. But, Barry never expected Tommy Lee to fall for Archie Donovan's latest scheme. The insurance agent wants to ride on the Jaycees float in the Apple Festival parade to raise money for the Boys and Girls Clubs. Barry can arrest him, and he'll spend time in jail, trying to raise the $10,000. With Barry on the...